New: LEICA SUMMILUX-M 28 mm f/1.4 ASPH.

[hiepphotog]

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This really is a great lens. Usable for stars wide open, but you need to focus a little short of infinity to minimize the coma in the extreme corners (it doesn't go away, but improves a little by tweaking the focus). The coma problems are only in the corners...the edge of the frame is fine. By F2 coma is under control and should not be a problem for critical work, but you still need to find optimal focus for best performance across the frame. The EVF in the SL makes this a simple task.

 

In my experience, the 35 FLE is a little better in this regard. The 35 is completely usable wide open for astrophotography. However, the 28 is definitely more impressive when all factors are considered and may be the best lens I've ever owned.

 

Here is a photo with the 28 Summilux on the SL. This was shot at F2, 5 sec exposure @ ISO 3200

First image is full frame, second is actual pixels from the upper left corner. I will try to shoot some tests wide open when the weather allows.

 

JSH, thank you very much. Would you mind posting a WO crop? That f/2 crop looks very good, but the Cron 28 can do something similar at WO . The ZM 35/1.4's WO is about this good.

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[J S H]

JSH, thank you very much. Would you mind posting a WO crop? That f/2 crop looks very good, but the Cron 28 can do something similar at WO . The ZM 35/1.4's WO is about this good.

 

28 Summilux wide open. 5 Sec at ISO 3200. There is noticeable coma in the corners, but the edges are still fine. As you probably know, bright stars amplify the aberrations, so coma may not be as noticeable unless a bright star is very near the extreme corners.

 

First image is full frame, second is 100% crop at 1600 pixels wide.

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[hiepphotog]

28 Summilux wide open. 5 Sec at ISO 3200. There is noticeable coma in the corners, but the edges are still fine. As you probably know, bright stars amplify the aberrations, so coma may not be as noticeable unless a bright star is very near the extreme corners.

 

First image is full frame, second is 100% crop at 1600 pixels wide.

Thank you so much. This is about the same as the Lux 21, 24 and 50. I can make an appropriate decision now .

[J S H]

Thank you so much. This is about the same as the Lux 21, 24 and 50. I can make an appropriate decision now .

That's an important decision. To make sure that you have as much info as possible, here is a link to download the full res file. I will leave it there for a few days...

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xgck0v9sux5d3t9/Leica%20SL%202015-12-08%20L1190286-2.jpg?dl=0

[hiepphotog]

That's an important decision. To make sure that you have as much info as possible, here is a link to download the full res file. I will leave it there for a few days...

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xgck0v9sux5d3t9/Leica%20SL%202015-12-08%20L1190286-2.jpg?dl=0

 

This is about as much info as I could ever hope for. You don't know how much you have helped me on this . You have a good day sir!

[Rick]

So tempted to get the new 28mm Summilux.  A couple of thoughts.  One thing I notice is the high degree of chromatic aberration, and Don already mentioned this.  Compare this to the 28mm Summicron which has virtually no CA and almost no fringing.  

 

Another issue for me is the size.  I understand this is subjective but, for me, I move all day long and chose the M for its small shape factor and the small lenses that can be mounted on it.  The 28 Summilux, for me, crosses over this line.  The 28 Summicron is compact.

 

The 28 Summilux probably has higher contrast, color fidelity, and sharpness... but, it is difficult for me to appreciate this so far in online full resolution photos I have downloaded (I do know that there is a difference shooting a lens extensively and just downloading images).

 

Here is a full resolution link to the 28 Summicron.  You can click on it and it will take you to Flickr where you can click on the image and see it in full resolution and compare the sharpness in the center and edges, and the lack of CA compared to Don's photos posted on this thread.

 

Still not sure, but leaning toward just keeping my compact 28 Summicron for now.  It also makes great B&W images with smooth tones.  I included an image of this shot on Flickr which was made in LR

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Rick

 

Edited December 14, 2015 by Rick

[mmradman]

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Is that Split harbour with Diocletian Palace and St Duje Cathedral (St Dominus) in the background?

 

My recollection of Summicron 28 is heavy vignetting at max F stop while Summilux 28 is much less noticeable again at max F stop.  All chromatic anomalies if present can br fixed with ease in ACR (for instannce). Summilux is heavier lens no doubt but as a complete package with the integral screw-in lens hood it is more refined product than Summicron. RF blockage is about the same for both lenses with proprietary lens hoods. 

 

 

So tempted to get the new 28mm Summilux.  A couple of thoughts.  One thing I notice is the high degree of chromatic aberration, and Don already mentioned this.  Compare this to the 28mm Summicron which has virtually no CA and almost no fringing.  

 

Another issue for me is the size.  I understand this is subjective but, for me, I move all day long and chose the M for its small shape factor and the small lenses that can be mounted on it.  The 28 Summilux, for me, crosses over this line.  The 28 Summicron is compact.

 

The 28 Summilux probably has higher contrast, color fidelity, and sharpness... but, it is difficult for me to appreciate this so far in online full resolution photos I have downloaded (I do know that there is a difference shooting a lens extensively and just downloading images).

 

Here is a full resolution link to the 28 Summicron.  You can click on it and it will take you to Flickr where you can click on the image and see it in full resolution and compare the sharpness in the center and edges, and the lack of CA compared to Don's photos posted on this thread.

 

Still not sure, but leaning toward just keeping my compact 28 Summicron for now.  It also makes great B&W images with smooth tones.  I included an image of this shot on Flickr which was made in LR

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Rick

 

[wattsy]

Must admit that I find the 28 Summilux more interesting than my brain tells me I should, especially as I know where I can buy it (at a discount to RRP as well). I'm also bothered about the size and I wasn't reassured when I briefly tried the lens out a few months ago. The current 35 Summilux is the largest lens I own and that is already marginal for me. I get the feeling that the 28 Summilux is a superb lens but, like Rick, I think it crosses a line where I don't really want to go.

Edited December 14, 2015 by wattsy

[Rick]

Is that Split harbour with Diocletian Palace and St Duje Cathedral (St Dominus) in the background?

 

My recollection of Summicron 28 is heavy vignetting at max F stop while Summilux 28 is much less noticeable again at max F stop.  All chromatic anomalies if present can br fixed with ease in ACR (for instannce). Summilux is heavier lens no doubt but as a complete package with the integral screw-in lens hood it is more refined product than Summicron. RF blockage is about the same for both lenses with proprietary lens hoods. 

 

Yes, you are correct.  Split is a wonderful city to visit in the summer.  But, it has become more popular as more and more folks are discovering what a nice Adriatic City it really is.

 

The finder blockage is significant on the Summilux.  But, I agree, it is about the same when the huge lens hood is added to the Summicron.  Where the modern design of the Leica lens hood for the Summilux is very compact.  

 

Leica seems to have made design decisions in its modern lenses to to keep the lens hoods extremely small.  I'm not sure if this is due to the fact that the newer fast f1.4 lenses are already so large that finder blockage needs to be kept to a minimum or because modern lenses have better coatings to control internal flare or that lens hoods seem no longer to be de rigueur.     

 

Rick

[don daniel]

Rick, no such lovely view as yours, but industrial cityscape. Here is a link to download a DNG, shot with the Summilux 28 on the M240:

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/anoiof7qri153bt/15-11-20-L1000954%20Kopie.DNG?dl=0

 

And here is a link to see what I made out of this dng, processing in Capture One, full resolution:

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/51kuk5rogd9idwi/15-11-20-L1000954%201.jpg?dl=0

 

And this is how it looks scaled-down:

 

 

[mmradman]

---

 

The finder blockage is significant on the Summilux.  But, I agree, it is about the same when the huge lens hood is added to the Summicron.  Where the modern design of the Leica lens hood for the Summilux is very compact.  

 

---

Have you tried the lens or just quote the internet?  There is no denying it, Summilux 28 blocks bottom right corner but it is not unique in doing so, and it is not much worse than Summicron with original hood on. I sold my Summicron beforehand so can't compare but rely on memory.  I definitely prefer images produced with Summilux at any F stop including F1.4 

 

Anyway, all this business of hair splitting over lens hood size and weight and how marvellous is the Summicron is just delaying inevitable. If you crave for the new shiny lens you will get it eventually, Borg are rarely wrong, resistance is futile.

[Rick]

Have you tried the lens or just quote the internet?  There is no denying it, Summilux 28 blocks bottom right corner but it is not unique in doing so, and it is not much worse than Summicron with original hood on. I sold my Summicron beforehand so can't compare but rely on memory.  I definitely prefer images produced with Summilux at any F stop including F1.4 

 

Anyway, all this business of hair splitting over lens hood size and weight and how marvellous is the Summicron is just delaying inevitable. If you crave for the new shiny lens you will get it eventually, Borg are rarely wrong, resistance is futile.

 

Hah!  You are probably right.  I may end up with it anyway.  But, I will say that lately (last year) I've really settled into smaller Leica lenses.  

 

And, yes I did go in and try the 28 Summilux twice now on my M240 (not internet) and did get a chance to shoot it for a while.  For me it is getting to the too big area.  I also own the 28 Summicron and have shot it ever since 2007.  You can see most of my photos on my site are from it.

 

I'm sure that if the 28 Summilux is like my 35 Summilux, it will be fantastic.  Because, I like the image quality and characteristic of my 35 Summilux, I'd like to have that in my preferred 28mm FOV.  And, I'd sell my 35 Summilux.  I just have to get over the size as my daily carry lens.  I'll go try it again, I guess. 

 

Rick

[IkarusJohn]

It's fantastic on the SL, if that helps 

[Rick]

It's fantastic on the SL, if that helps 

 

Fantastically... Heavy? 

[IkarusJohn]

If heavy is a concern, then even the M is problematic.  Everyone who picks up my M camera comments on it being heavy - weight expectations are set by the opposition's extensive use of plastic ...

 

Holding the SL with the zoom, yes it's a fair old weight.  The SL with an M lens, not so much - depends on the lens.

 

Size wise, the 28 Summilux really isn't that different to the 35 Summilux - smaller than the 21 & 24 Summilux, 75 Summilux & Summicron and the AA 90 ... slightly larger than the 50 Summilux, but really between the 28-35-50 Summiluxes, not much in it.

 

Image quality?  The 28 leads that pack ...

[Rick]

John,

 

Yep, we agree on all of this.  I love the size of the M.  Although, I agree, the weight is over the top.  

 

The size of my 28 and 35 Summicron are ideal, for me.  But the weight and size of the corresponding Summilux lenses, like my 35 Summilux is borderline, for me.  

 

Love the image quality of my Summilux lenses. I imagine they are even better on the SL.  The new 28 Summilux must be fantastic on the SL.

 

I've tried the SL and it is fantastic.  But, in the end, I just want to carry a decent, small camera and lenses.  I actually don't care so much if it has an EVF or AF.. . or OVF and MF...  I can work with any good, simple system.  

 

I believe you mostly feel the same?

 

Rick

[bcdano]

I am travelling at the moment in Cambodia and Laos with the 28 Summilux and was worried about the size compared to the 28 Elmarit that I used to travel with. The Lux is certainly bigger but I am getting used to it with the hood. The IQ of this lens is superb and any inconvenience of size and viewfinder blockage has largely been forgotten. After a month on the road I will have a better take on the 28 Lux as a travel lens - but so far I'm not complaining.

[NB23]

I have to ask: why shoot stars? What's the interest? What does it prove? Who shoots stars and why? Genuine questions

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[LeicaPassion]

The IQ of this lens is superb and any inconvenience of size and viewfinder blockage has largely been forgotten.

[LeicaPassion]

+1. When I'm shooting street for an entire day, I do notice the weight compared to the summicron. But it is a momentary thought. The rendering is stunning on the MM1 - very sharp but not clinical. Wonderful transition to OOF areas. It has a quality that seems very close to that of the 50 APO. Any weight difference or viewfinder blockage are forgotten when the images are viewed. That said, I usually carry 1 or 2 lenses. If I brought more lenses on a long trip I would opt for the cron or elmarit.